abbrev (ab)command abbreviation
accept_messages (am)allow interactive messages
add_name (an)add a name to a directory entry
add_search_paths (asp)add a search path to a search list
add_search_rules (asr)add a search rule
adjust_bit_count (abc)set segment's bit count to include last char
AFafter (af)return characters of a string after a specified argument
answerrun a command and answer its questions
apl (v2apl)invoke APL language interpreter
archive (ac)combine segments
AFarchive_table (act)return a list of segments in an archive
assign_resource (ar)assign a resource to the user process
attach_audit (ata)attach an I/O switch that keeps a copy in a multisegment file
attach_lv (alv)attach a logical volume to the user process
AFbefore (be)return characters of a string before a specified argument
AFbinary (bin)return translation of an argument to binary base
bind (bd)produce an object segment from multiple object segments
AFboolperform boolean operations on arguments
AFbranchesreturn list of branches in a directory
AFcalcperform simple calculations
calendarproduce printable calendar
cancel_abs_request (car)remove absentee request from queue
cancel_cobol_program (ccp)cancel COBOL program from current run unit
cancel_daemon_request (cdr)remove I/O daemon request from queue
cancel_resource (cnr)cancel reservations made with the reserve_resource command
cancel_retrieval_request (crr)remove retrieve request from queue
canonicalize (canon)ensure that segment contents are in canonical form
AFceilreturn smallest decimal number larger than its argument
change_default_wdir (cdwd)change default working directory
change_error_mode (cem)change verbosity of default error handler
change_wdir (cwd)change working directory
check_iacllist directory entries with ACLs that don't match initial ACL
check_info_segs (cis)list help segments that have changed (source)
close_file (cf)close a multisegment file
cobolinvoke COBOL compiler
cobol_abs (cba)enter absentee request to compile a COBOL program
AFcollatereturn 128-character collation string
AFcollate9return 512-character collation string
comparecompare two segments in binary mode
compare_ascii (cpa)compare two segments in ASCII
AFcontentsreturn contents of a segment
convert_characters (cvc)translate characters in a segment
copy (cp)make a copy of a segment
copy_aclcopy ACL of one directory entry to another
copy_cards (ccd)copy card image segments from system pool
AFcopy_characters (cpch)return string with N copies of argument
copy_dir (cpd)copy directory
copy_file (cpf)copy multisegment file
copy_iacl_dircopy initial ACL for dirs of one directory entry to another
copy_iacl_segcopy initial ACL for segs of one directory entry to another
create (cr)create a segment
create_data_segment (cds)create an object segment with data definitions
create_dir (cd)create a directory
cumulative_page_trace (cpt)trace a program and display its paging actions
damaged_sw_off (dsf)turn off a directory entry's damaged switch
damaged_sw_on (dsn)turn on a directory entry's damaged switch
AFdatereturn the date
AFdate_compiled (dtc)return the date an object segment was compiled
AFdate_timereturn date and time
AFdayreturn day number
AFday_namereturn day name
debug (db)invoke low level debugger
AFdecatreturn portions of an input string
AFdecimalreturn an argument converted to decimal mode
decodedecrypt an enciphered file
AFdefaultreturn default values if none suppled
AFdefault_wdir (dwd)return default working directory
defer_messages (dm)hold printing of interactive messages
delete (dl)delete a directory entry
delete_acl (da)delete an ACL entry
delete_dir (dd)delete a directory
delete_iacl_dir (did)delete a directory initial ACL entry
delete_iacl_seg (dis)delete a segment initial ACL entry
delete_message (dlm)delete a held interactive message
delete_name (dn)remove a name from a directory entry
delete_search_paths (dsp)delete a search path from a search list
delete_search_rules (dsr)delete a ready message
detach_audit (dta)detach an audit I/O switch
detach_lv (dlv)detach a logical volume
pdial (d)connect a terminal to a running process
AFdirectories (dirs)return a list of directories
AFdirectoryreturn directory portion of a pathname
discard_output (dco)run a command and discard its output
display_audit_file (daf)display an audit file
display_cobol_run_unit (dcr)list programs in the current COBOL run unit
display_pl1io_error (dpe)display most recent PL/I I/O error
AFdividereturn result of division
AFdoexecute a command, substituting arguments
dprint (dp)enter an I/O daemon print request in queue
dpunch (dpn)enter an I/O daemon card punch request in queue
AFdump_segment (ds)display a segment in ASCII
echotype input arguments
edminvoke ASCII text editor
emacsinvoke ASCII text editor
encodeencrypt a segment into enciphered form
penter (e)log in as an anonymous user
enter_abs_request (ear)enter a request for absentee processing in queue
enter_retrieval_request (err)enter a request for file retrieve in queue
penterp (ep)log in as an anonymous user, with password
AFentriesreturn list of entries in a directory
AFentryreturn entry name portion of a pathname
AFequaltest if two strings are equal
AFequal_namereturn a pathname constructed according to the equal convention
exec_com (ec)execute a list of commands from a segment
AFexiststest if a file exists
expand_cobol_source (ecs)expand COBOL source
fastinvoke the FAST (BASIC) subsystem
file_output (fo)redirect standard_output I/O switch to a multisegment file
AFfilesreturn a list of multisegment files in a directory
AFfloorreturn the largest decimal number less than an argument
AFformat_line (fl)return a formatted line
fortran (ft)invoke FORTRAN compiler
fortran_abs (fta)enter a request for absentee FORTRAN compilation in queue
gcos (gc)invoke GCOS simulator
AFgeneral_ready (gr)change format of ready message
AFget_pathname (gpn)return pathname of an active segment
get_quota (gq)display storage quota for a directory
get_system_search_rules (gssr)get system ready messages
AFgreatertest if one argument is greater than another
phanguphang up without logging in
AFhave_mailtest if a mailbox is empty
phellorepeat system greeting message
helpdisplay system information files (source)
AFhexadecimal (hex)return argument converted to hexadecimal base
AFhighreturn string of \177 characters
AFhigh9return string of \777 characters
AFhome_dir (hd)return home directory pathname
AFhourreturn hour
how_many_users (hmu)display number of users logged in
ifexecute command line if a condition is met
immediate_messages (im)allow interactive messages to print
indent (ind)prettyprint PL/I source
AFindexreturn location of one string in another
AFindex_setreturn list of integers
initiate (in)assign a segment a segment number (make it known)
AFio_call (io)configure and operate on process's I/O switches
AFlast_message (lm)return last interactive message text
AFlast_message_sender (lms)return last interactive message sender
AFlast_message_time (lmt)return last interactive message time
AFlength (ln)return length of argument
AFlesstest if one argument is greater than another
line_length (ll)set terminal line length
link (lk)create a link
AFlinks (nonbranches)return list of links in a directory
list (ls)list a directory's contents
list_abs_requests (lar)list absentee request queue
list_accessible (lac)list directory entries accessible by a user
AFlist_acl (la)display a directory entry's ACL
list_daemon_requests (ldr)list I/O daemon request queue
list_help (lh)listsystem help files (source)
AFlist_iacl_dir (lid)display a directory's initial ACL for directories
AFlist_iacl_seg (lis)display a directory's initial ACL for segments
list_not_accessible (lnac)list directory entries not accessible by a user
list_ref_names (lrn)list reference names for initiated segments (source)
list_resource_types (lrt)list types in a resource definition type table
list_resources (lr)list a process's assigned resources
list_retrieval_requests (lrr)list file retrieve request queue
plogin (l)create a process for a user
logoutdestroy a user process and release terminal connection
AFlong_datereturn long date
AFlowreturn string of \000 characters
AFlower_casereturn argument mapped to lower case
AFltrimreturn argument with blanks trimmed on left
AFlv_attachedtest if a logical volume is attached to the process
AFmanage_volume_poolmanage volume pool, assign and release scratch tapes
AFmaster_directories (mdirs)list master directories
AFmaxreturn largest value
memoinvoke reminder management tool
mergeinvoke general merge tool
merge_ascii (ma)merge ASCII segments
AFminreturn smallest value
AFminusreturn result of subtraction
AFminutereturn minute
AFmodreturn result of mod function
pmodesset terminal modes before login
AFmonthreturn month
AFmonth_namereturn month name
move (mv)move a directory entry to a new directory
move_abs_request (mar)move absentee request to new queue
move_daemon_request (mdr)move I/O daemon request to new queue
move_dir (mvd)move a directory to a new directory
move_quota (mq)move quota between directories
AFmsfsreturn list of multisegment files
AFnequaltest if arguments are unequal
new_fortraninvoke new FORTRAN compiler
new_procend this process and create a new one attached to this terminal
AFngreatertest if one argument is not greater than another
AFnlesstest if one argument is not less than another
no_save_on_disconnectset switch to discard process on hangup
AFnondirectories (nondirs)return list of non-directory entries
AFnonfilesreturn list of non-multisegment file entries
AFnonmsfsreturn list of non-multisegment file entries
AFnonnull_links (nnlinks)return list of non-null link entries
AFnonsegments (nsegs)return list of non-segment entries
AFnonzero_files (nzfiles)return list of nonzero multisegment file entries
AFnonzero_msfs (nzmfsfs)return list of nonzero MSF entries
AFnonzero_segments (nzsegs)return list of nonzero multisegment file entries
AFnotreturn negation of its argument
AFnull_linksreturn list of null link entries
AFoctal (oct)return argument represented in octal base
AFonexecute a command line and catch signals
AForreturn logical OR of arguments
overlay (ov)create segment that superimposes input segments
page_trace (pgt)trace paging activity
AFpathreturn pathname of argument
AFpicture (pic)return argument converted according to a picture
pl1invoke PL/I compiler
pl1_abs (pa)enter request for absentee PL/I compilation in queue
AFplusreturn result of addition
print (pr)display segment or multisegment file on terminal
AFprint_attach_table (pat)display process's I/O switch attachments
print_auth_names (pan)display sensitivity levels and compartments
print_default_wdir (pdwd)display default working directory
print_mail (pm)display mail in a mailbox
print_messages (pm)display interactive messages in a mailbox
print_motd (pmotd)display message of the day (source)
print_proc_auth (ppa)display process's sensitivity level and compartments
print_request_types (prt)display list of I/O daemon request types
print_search_paths (psp)display search paths
print_search_rules (psr)display ready messages
print_wdir (pwd)display working directory
probe (pb)invoke high-level symbolic debugger
AFprocess_dir (pd)return process directory pathname
profile (pf)execute a program and count each statement's execution
program_interrupt (pi)re-enter interactive program after QUIT
progress (pg)execute a program and indicate progress
qedx (qx)invoke ASCII text editor
AFqueryask question in an exec_com
AFquotientreturn result of division
read_mail (rdm)read mailbox
ready_off (rdf)turn off ready message
ready_on (rdn)turn on ready message
release (rl)release suspended execution after QUIT
rename (rn)rename a directory entry
repeat_query (rq)reprint last query
reprint_error (re)display last error
reserve_resource (rsr)reserve resource for process
resolve_linkage_error (rle)specify object segment and entrypoint to use after linkage error
resource_usage (ru)display account's system resource quotas and usage (source)
AFresponsereturns answer to a question
AFreverse (rv)returns a string in reversed order
AFreverse_after (rvaf)returns same as after, but in reverse order
AFreverse_before (rvbe)returns same as before, but in reverse order
AFreverse_index (rvindex)returns same as index, but in reverse order
AFreverse_search (rvsrh)returns same as search, but in reverse order
AFreverse_verify (rvverify)returns same as verify, but in reverse order
AFrtrimreturns argument with blanks trimmed on right
runrun a command in an isolated environment
run_cobol (rc)run a COBOL program
runoff (rf)format document for printing
runoff_abs (rfa)enter a request for absentee runoff formatting in queue
safety_sw_off (ssf)turn off a directory entry's safety switch
safety_sw_on (ssn)turn on a directory entry's safety switch
save_on_disconnectset switch to preserve process on hangup
AFsearchreturn leftmost position of specified chars in an argument
AFsegments (segs)return a list of segments in a directory
send_mail (sdm)send an electronic mail message
send_mesage (sm)send an interactive message
send_mesage_acknowledge (sma)send an interactive message, request ack
send_mesage_express (smx)send an interactive message if user accepting
send_mesage_silent (sms)send an interactive message, no errors
set_aclset the ACL of a branch
set_bit_count (sbc)set a segment's bit count
set_ccset FORTRAN carriage control
set_fortran_common (sfc)set a process's FORTRAN COMMON storage
set_iacl_dir (sid)set a directory's initial ACL for directories
set_iacl_seg (sis)set a directory's initial ACL for segments
set_search_paths (ssp)set search paths
set_search_rules (ssr)set ready messages
AFseverityreturn the exit status of the last command
pslavemake a terminal available for use by another process
sortinvoke general sort facility
sort_seg (ss)sort an ASCII segment
start (sr)restart interrupted execution after QUIT
status (st)display a directory entry's file system attributes
stop_cobol_run (scr)stop the current COBOL run unit execution
stop_rundiscard the current run environment
AFstringreturn concatenation of all arguments
AFstripreturn filename argument with suffix removed
AFstrip_entry (spe)return entryname argument with suffix removed
AFsubstrreturn specified substring of argument
AFsuffixreturn last component of filename argument
AFsystemdisplay system administration parameters
tape_archive (ta)maintain an archive of files on tape
pterminal_type (ttp)set terminal type before login
terminate (tm)make a segment unknown
terminate_segment (tms)make a segment unknown given segment number
terminate_refname (tmr)make a segment unknown given its reference name
terminate_single_refname (tmsr)make a single reference name unknown
AFtimereturn the time
AFtimesreturn result of multiplication
traceexecute a command and trace subroutine calls
trace_stack (ts)display call history of interrupted execution
AFtranslatereturn replacement of some chars by others in argument
AFtruncreturn decimal value of argument with fraction truncated
truncate (tr)discard data in a segment past a given location
unassign_resource (ur)unassign a resource assigned to the process
AFunderlinereturn a value with underlining
AFuniquereturn a unique character string
unlink (ul)remove a link from a directory
AFupper_casereturn an argument mapped to upper case
AFuserdisplay user registration parameters
AFverifyreturn the location of first character of argument not in a list
vfile_adjust (vfa)adjust length parameters of a multisegment file
vfile_status (vfs)display file system attributes for a multisegment file
volume_dump_switch_off (vdsf)turn off a directory entry's volume dump switch
volume_dump_switch_on (vdsn)turn on a directory entry's volume dump switch
walk_subtree (ws)execute a command on every entry inferior to a directory
where (wh)use search rules to find a file (source)
where_search_path (wsp)use a specified search list to find a file
whodisplay the names of users logged in (source)
AFworking_dir (wd)return current working directory
AFyearreturn year
AFzero_segments (zsegs)return a list of segments with zero bit count
NOTES
"AF" indicates that the command could also be called as an active function on a shell command line, by enclosing the command name in brackets. For example,

ioa_ [date]
This required special coding in the command to see if it was called as an active function and if so, to return a string value instead of writing on standard_output.

"p" indicates a "pre-login" command. You could issue these commands when you first connected your terminal to the system. These commands were not implemented as separate programs, but rather as fixed request tokens interpreted by the Answering Service. There were several more such commands: 963, 938, and MAP for three.

This is by no means all of the commands available on Multics.

This edition of AW17 was full of typos and omissions.
This list includes only Standard Service System (SSS) commands. These were the commands documented for general use. In addition, there were other libraries of commands:
system and project administrator commands
operator commands
system developer tools
author-maintained commands
unbundled commands, including those related to MRDS, compose, etc.
obsolete commands still used by many users

Understand that this is a snapshot as of 1980. Commands were added, and others superseded or moved to non-SSS libraries, throughout the evolution of Multics. For example, sometime in the 1980s, dprint was replaced by enter_output_request (eor), a more symmetrical name. The dprint command continued to work, but was deprecated.